Indole-3-Carbinol Nutrient in Broccoli Protects the Heart, Balances Cholesterol

Email this article to a friend

Printable Version

Articles Related to This Article: • Broccoli Juice Proven to Protect Skin Better than Sunscreen • Daily Dose of Broccoli Halts Ulcers and Cancer • Half-a-Dozen Healthy Reasons for Eating More of the Green Stuff Support NaturalNews advertisers - Advertise with NaturalNews Help support NaturalNews with health books and educational programs from Truth Publishing: • Swine Flu Advanced Preparedness • 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health • Raw In Ten Minutes (recipes) • How to Halt Diabetes in 25 Days ... and much more.

(NaturalNews) Researchers have identified a naturally occurring chemical that may account for the cardiovascular health benefits of cruciferous vegetables, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

The cruciferous vegetable family (Brassicaceae) includes many popular food plants such as broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, canola (rapeseed), kale, mustard, radish, rutabaga, turnip and watercress.

Researchers discovered that the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol reduced human cells' secretion of apolipopretein B-100 (apoB) in a laboratory culture. ApoB is a critical component of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and has previously been shown to be responsible for transporting cholesterol between the body's tissues. Prior studies have also linked high concentrations of apoB to the formation of plaque in blood vessels.

Indole-3-carbinol reduced apoB secretion in a dose-dependent manner, with larger doses leading to lower secretion. A concentration of 100 micromoles per liter successfully reduced apoB secretion by 56 percent.

In addition to these effects, the scientists observed that the indole-3-carbinol-dosed cells showed decreased production of other fat compounds, including triglycerides.

"The results indicate that plant indoles have beneficial effects on lipid synthesis that could contribute to their potential cardioprotective effect," the researchers said.

A prior study has suggested that indole-3-carbinol also helps prevent and slow the growth of cancerous tumors, while many studies have demonstrated that a higher intake of fresh fruits and vegetables helps prevent against both cancer and cardiovascular disease.

According to the American Heart Association, 70.1 million people in the United States suffered from cardiovascular disease in 2002 -- 34.2 percent of the population. It is one of the primary killers in the United States and Europe, accounting for 30 percent of all deaths.

Share

Get articles like this delivered to you FREE in our popular email newsletter

Related CounterThink Cartoons:

Related Articles: • Broccoli Juice Proven to Protect Skin Better than Sunscreen • Daily Dose of Broccoli Halts Ulcers and Cancer • Half-a-Dozen Healthy Reasons for Eating More of the Green Stuff	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/023081_broccoli_indole-3-carbinol_disease.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/023081_broccoli_indole-3-carbinol_disease.html">Indole-3-Carbinol Nutrient in Broccoli Protects the Heart, Balances Cholesterol</a>